Something has arrived; the air has moved. No, not Taylor Swift — but Pride. This June has been dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride and London is one of the world’s best places to do so. Somewhat incredibly, this year marks the first time since 2016 that the big Pride parade is being held in Pride Month itself, landing this weekend on June 29. There is something for all — regardless of age, race, gender or sexuality — with culture, comedy and clubbing events all covered both below, and the guide to London’s best Pride-adjacent cultural events, which you can find here. Even Covent Garden has a rainbow. London, be who you are and take Pride in that.
The Pride Parade
The main event. London’s Pride Parade attracts upwards of 600 LGBTQ+ community groups to the event, has 30,000 people involved and countless more are there to party along to it. Expect the streets to be filled, plenty of music and endless streams of dancers. To watch it, perhaps try Hyde Park Corner for where it all kicks off, before it heads up through Haymarket, Piccadilly Circus and onto Trafalgar Square, finally calling time in Whitehall Place at 6pm (ish). There are stage performances throughout, with the official one in Trafalgar Square, and plenty throughout Soho (look out for the Dean Street Cabaret stage). But anywhere along the route or through town will be packed. Want to support but can’t quite face the crowds? The grandstands are at Haymarket and on Cockspur Street, for £80 a ticket.
June 29, free, through town, prideinlondon.com
The Coach and Horses
London’s best pub — at least according to the Standard — famously welcomes tribes of all kinds on any given day. Last year, it held its inaugural, dedicated Pride party, and will be doing the same throughout the day this year too. It’s also just somewhere for a bloody good drink. Your order? Pint of London Pride. Has to be.
June 29, 29 Greek Street, W1, coachandhorsessoho.pub
Howl Pride
How’s your stamina? Howl is a mammoth day to night party, clocking in at a total of 15 hours. It’s from Howl, the sexual wellness brand, but if last year’s bash at Hackney Wick’s Colour Factory is anything to go by, it’s light on the shilling. The daytime do will include a garden party with queer market stalls and a bouncy castle, but as the night draws on, the space will transform into an all-night sex-positive queer rave. Things start at 2pm, finishing at 6am.
June 29, £15-£20, Colour Factory, 8 Queen’s Yard, E9, ra.co
HE.SHE.THEY
London queer collective, HE.SHE.THEY, is back at Koko; no surprise given how last year’s show went (it slapped). Since way back in 2018, HE.SHE.THEY have toured the world’s clubs, and for this post-parade party, which is on till 5am, have brought over Tama Sumo and Lakuti, residents at Berlin’s Panorama Bar. There’ll also be debut performances from Kitten and Bestley, with Hercules And Love Affair headlining.
June 29, £6-£46.95, 1a Camden High Street, NW1, ra.co
Lana Del Rave
Not content to call it a night at six in the morning? Sleep it off in the day and embrace Pride weekend to its fullest at Heaven. The legendary — truly — club is hosting a Pride after-party dedicated to Lana and her ilk (think Marina, Florence + the Machine, Lorde, Melanie Martinez and so on). Queer DJ Callum Crighton will be taking to the stage alongside Flesh & Bones and the night will be complete with a variety of tribute acts, balloon drops and plenty of glitter. Things kick of at 10.30pm and keep sweatily, joyfully dancing till 3am. Looking for an alternative after-party?
30 June, £16.95, Heaven, Charing Cross Arches, WC2, g-a-yandheaven.co.uk
The Glory at River Stage
Also post Pride month, the National Theatre’s free, outdoor summer stage is back for the summer and will be opened with a spectacular Pride performance. The Glory, formerly a beloved east end LGBTQ+ pub, will be bringing their performers across the water and onto the Southbank. It’s a chance to see what made the Glory so utterly loved in the first place.
Free, July 5-8, National Theatre, Southbank, SE1, nationaltheatre.org.uk
Pride Prom for Under 18s
Pride Prom is the only exclusive under-18s event in the London’s Pride calendar, and as such separated a fair distance from Pride month itself. Teens are invited to express themselves freely in a safe and open environment. Safety and security is of great importance at this space and all profits raised will be donated to Mosaic LGBT+, a trust dedicated to supporting and educating young people of the LGBTQ+ community.
